SINGAPORE: Anime distributor Odex Tuesday lost its appeal to the Singapore High Court to force internet service provider Pacific Internet (PacNet) to reveal the names of its subscribers suspected of downloading anime clips illegally.

The appeal was dismissed on the grounds that Odex is just a sub-licensee but not the copyright owner or the exclusive licensee.

Instead, the courts ordered PacNet to hand over the information to the six Japanese companies, Sunrise Inc., Kadokawa Pictures Inc., GDH K.K., TV Tokyo Medianet Inc., Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation and Showgate Inc., which actually own the copyrights.

The ruling has paved way for further enforcement actions by other copyright owners.

Odex said it will work closely with other copyright owners, which are expected to make similar applications to court soon.

The Odex case has seen much interest from the public, especially in online chatrooms and blogs. Many were unhappy last year when Odex forced StarHub and Singtel to reveal the names of those suspected of illegally downloading anime clips. - CNA/ac